Countering Biblical Minimalism

Fallacy: Lack of archaeological evidence implies non-existence.

Biblical Minimalists often argue that many people or places mentioned in the
Tanach did not exist, and that many events mentioned in the Tanach did not occur,
because archaeologists have found no evidence of them. This is a fallacious
argument. If archaeological evidence of something is found, then this proves its
existence. But if no evidence is found, no conclusion can be reached. One cannot
distinguish between the case of something never having existed, and the case of the
evidence having been lost or destroyed over the centuries. Archaeology merely
provides a random snapshot showing the few things which have survived by chance
and which have subsequently been found.

An example of this sort of nonsense is the claim that Rachel and Leah were a
totem ewe and totem wild cow originally. This claim ignores the fact that the use
of animal names was commonplace and had no religious or mythological
significance. It ignores the fact that traditional understanding of the name
Leah is "wearied" and that "wild cow" is merely one
alternative speculative proposal for the meaning of the name. It ignores the fact that all sources consistently
claim that Rachel and Leah were ordinary human beings, the daughters of Laban.
It ignores the fact that totem worship is a custom of Native Americans and is
unknown in the ancient Middle East. Biblical Minimalists come up with hundreds
of these contrived groundless alternative explanations.